Aloe vera

The leaf pulp of aloe is known for a very long time for its ability to relieve topical wounds, including burns, sunburns, abrasions and cuts. Research indicates that one or more components of the pulp or gel may promote oxygen availability to the skin cells and may help with tissue strength and formation. Aloe may also decrease swelling and redness, reduce inflammation, and accelerate wound healing, as well as assist in maintaining skin's supple quality. There is strong evidence that aloe may stabilise DNA and RNA and possibly promote DNA repair.

Recent studies have shown that this plant may provide additional health benefits when taken orally, including promoting ‘healthy’ cholesterol, stabilising blood sugar levels, enhancing the immune system, promoting gastrointestinal/digestive health, and even assisting in weight management.

Aloe vera juice has long been used for healthy digestion. It has been shown to possess at least three anti-inflammatory fatty acids that may benefit the stomach, small intestine and colon. Aloe assists in cleansing the digestive tract by exerting a soothing, balancing effect, and, it prevents indigestion by naturally alkalising -- reducing the acidity -- of digestive juices. This provides various benefits, including promoting healthy regularity, improving the colon's bacterial function, and reducing bloating and flatulence. And, the aloe compound acemannan, which is one of aloe's most important bioactive elements, may support immunity by boosting the activity of T-lymphocyte cells.

These digestive benefits may make aloe effective for weight management. As it helps to promote healthy blood sugar levels, aloe may reduce hunger pangs and cravings. By helping to manage the highs and lows of dieting, aloe can help maintain energy levels. Aloe contains seven antioxidants, and may stimulate the body's natural antioxidant production and metabolic processes. Aloe supplementation is also believed to support healthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Further studies suggest that when taken with aloe vera gel, vitamin C and E absorption may be increased by more than 200%. Diabetics may have lower levels of antioxidant defence, and the increased vitamin C and E can help support both healthy blood glucose levels and antioxidant defences.

Acemannan is a polysaccharide composed mostly of mannose monosaccharides. It has been found to directly stimulate the immune system, and short-chain fatty acids created during digestion in the large intestine have positive effects on many metabolic processes. Oral ingestion of acemannan has been shown to increase resistance to influenza virus as well as fungal infections. In vitro, Candida albicans was destroyed, as were some viruses. Acemannan may bind to the mucus membranes in the intestinal tract, blocking fungal attachment.

Acemannan injections are now an accepted treatment for the otherwise untreatable killer viruses FELV and FIV in cats, and can also reverse the growth of tumours caused by FELV infection. It is also showing promise against HIV. Researchers found that when white blood cells (macrophages) were incubated in Acemannan for up to 60 minutes and then mixed with various pathogenic organisms, some 98% of the organisms were killed by the glyconutrient-treated macrophages as compared with 0-5% in the control group. Its anti-viral activity may therefore be due entirely to the immune-stimulating effects of acemannan.

It has been known for some time that many polymers of the sugar mannose have tumour-inhibiting qualities, and acemannan is no exception. This combination of anti-viral and anti-cancer activity make it a potentially very useful candidate for treatment of many viral diseases that cause extreme immune suppression and are associated with tumour growth.